The President returned to the Palace and didn’t go to Cebu, apparently ABS-CBN was led on a wild goose chase. The President retains Fidel Ramos, the police, and, conditionally, at least, the Armed Forces.

Brother Eddie’s attempt at an Edsa gathering fizzled out with about 100 people bothering to go.

Susan Roces kept her cool and maintained her statement, which was conciliatory to all those opposing the President.

This leaves tommorow as a day which Cory Aquino and Civil Society can begin to move more methodically, and without the fear of being sucked into an opposition power play. To their advantage, once again, the Binay-Estrada camp proved just how alienated they are, even from those opposed to the President. The advantage remains with Cory Aquino and friends, while the rest of the population watches and waits, and Susan Roces keeps her final card in hand.

The bishops are the only group with a national and local constituency that haven’t been heard from. Their call will determine which side can break the stalemate.

The Vice-President remains firmly decided upon keeping his options open. At a forum I attended this evening, one participant pointed out de Castro isn’t affiliated with the Marcos camp, the Edsa I, II, or III camps. So that’s a cause for a little optimism, isn’t it?

Two scuttlebutt items from people claiming to be in the know, although I’m rather skeptical:

1. Breakdown of the AFP -the majors are solidly against the President; colonels are worried they might get dragged in; the generals have no troops. PMA classes have met, and generally, they’re against the President.

2. The United States has decided to step in; agents coming in from Guam with airforce; CIA talking to the business community; the President forced to leave in 48 hours. The military has anticipated a martial law proclamation; a big faction in the military against such a proclamation.

Science-fiction aside, let me reiterate my thoughts about the President’s current stand: it’s big, bold, and lies.Tina Panganiban-Perez has a great account of running after the President. igmatv is a good source for video and stories on the past few days.

Sometimes I’m tempted to believe that the Philippines is the best reason to doubt democracy in the philippines.

I firmly believe that anything extra-judicial or extra-constitutional should not be tolerated. Similarly, I believe that the constitution is supposed to be held immutable. Otherwise, we shall all be governed by mob-rule. The ends never justify the means.

Erap could have hosed those protesters with bullets but he didint, Marcos could have bombed those protesters but didint. Gloria hurted lots of people when May 1 happened. I see a big difference between those 3.go figure

lavinia

“Let Manila resign from the Philippines. Manila can do whatever they want, but Manila is not the Philippines. It was not only Cory or the Makati Business Club or their groups who put Arroyo in position. The Philippines is not Manila or Makati. If opportunists who will create stories and fabricate lies can unseat any President, then the Philippines has no future,” said congresswoman Nerissa Soon-Ruiz.